Admit it…you missed my witty repartee and keen insights didn’t you?Okay, neither did I. For a while there I was pretty much just dry and tapped out myself and didn’t have a lot I wanted to write about.But I’m feeling re energized, reconnected, and I ran across an article that is just too good not to bring to your attention.

We talk a lot about how crucial it is for us as Jesus followers to come to grips with everything that God has done for us.All that He has made us. The transformation that occurred in us when we gave our hearts to Jesus.We need to live in the reality of who we really are in Christ: forgiven; holy and blameless; blessed with every spiritual blessing; partners in God’s larger story; the Holy Spirit actually living inside of us; legally adopted as sons.

We are adopted as sons (and I know that sounds sexist but that’s a gender inclusive term, that male or female, we’ve been given the same rights as legal heirs of God which isn’t sexist at all.) Because of this great love God has for us, he has made us, who once were orphans or slaves, a part of his family.

So this article appeared in the Arizona Republic the day after Christmas called Hope Holds Out: Boy Gains Family. It tells the story of Evens Paul, a 10 year old boy from an orphanage in Haiti and his younger brother who have been in process of being adopted by a family here in Gilbert for several years now. It was nearly official two years ago, then the earthquake destroyed all the records and they had to start over. You should read the rest of the story, it’s really very moving, but what I wanted you to hear were some of the statements from the family. And what it says about who you are in the eyes of your Father.

“My family has been waiting for me,” says Evens Paul Goracke. His family has loved him even before they got him.

Evens knew some English, but spoke Creole the best. He called Heather “Mami” and Jason “Papi.” He taught Brayden the Creole word for “brother.” He told Brayden that he wanted to look like his American family.

When they got him home, Brayden gave him the tour and showed Evens the pool, their room, the Legos, the bunk beds: all shared. When I came from Haiti,” Evens says, “the first thing he said: ‘Everything is yours.’”

This family, the judge reads, shall now “bear towards each other the relationship of parents and children.” When she gets to that part, his mom grabs him tight, and he watches his parents wipe their eyes. “It’s done,” his mom whispers. “She said yes. You’re stuck with us, no matter what.”

Did you hear that? I mean, did you really hear that?? Loved before they got him. Everything is yours. You’re stuck with us no matter what.Maybe we need a story like this to break through the intellect to the emotion of what God has done for us in Christ.To get our arms around the truth of who we are.Children of “Papi.” And maybe our response should be what Evens was: to want to be like our new family.

Find the whole story at _

Jim Miller

Privileged to serve the role of pastor for Oasis Community Church, blessed to be part of this family.